Protective device for fluid systems.



R. A ANDRE-sun PROTECTIVE DEVICE FS'R FLUID SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED I'BB. 16, 1910.

1,066,973. Patented July.8,1913.

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UNITED sira'rns PA orrrcn.

ROBERT ANDERSON. 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

ERO'IECTIVE DEVICE FOR FLUID SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

1 Aippiibation filed February 16, 1510. Serial No. 544,175.

, excess of pressure in the fluid contained therein, and is designedmore particularly to protect; water meters or other receptacles from theeffects of the freezing of their contents.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a partof. this specification,Fi ural is a view p ly in elevation and'partly in section illustrating aportion of a water motor, a pipe leading thereto and one of myprotective devices applied to the pi e; Fig. 2 is affragme-nturysectional view i1 ustrating a modification of my device; and Fig. 3- isa sectional view of a modified form of bulb.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the numeral 1 designates the meteror other device or receptacle which it is desired to protect. 2 is apipe leading thereto, which contains a T 3. VVit-h the side outlet 4 ofthe T I connect my protective device 5. The latter may be constructed ina. variety of ways, but I prefer to form the same of a plug or nipple 6having an externally screwthreaded end 7 which may be screwed into theoutlet 4 of the T, and an internally threaded cylindrical portion 8provided with a seat 9 for the reception of a packing ring 10. Thepacking ring may be of rubber or other suitable material, and is held.in place by a plug or gland member 11, provided with a flange 12 at itsouter end.- The plug 11 and packing ring 10 are perforated to receivethe tubular neck 13 of the bulb 14,

which forms an essential feature of my invention. The inner end of theneck 13 is contracted as indicated at 15' to provide a seat forengagement with the packing ring 10, the latter being sutticientlyresilient to permit the enlarged end 16 of the bulb neck to l)C forcedtherethrough and to contract into the groove formed by the contractedportion-of the neck, thus serving to retain the bulb in position. Thebulb is open at its inner end and is ih connection withthe water-pipe 2.through the opening 17 in the P atiented J u'ly 8,1851%:

nipple. The. bulb may bemade of 'any niittcrial which will break orstretch under the influence of excessive pressure within the same, andthus relieve the pressure in the pipe and meter 1 to an-extentsufficient to prevent dama e thereto. I prefer tom'ake' the bulb 14 0-less or other frangible indterial, so'that it will burst and ermit freeoutflow of the water contained t new; In

order to protect the bulb from injury from external sources, Ipreferably cover the same with a. cap 20. having an in-turned flange 21,which engages beneath the flange 12 ofthe plu ll. In order that this camay not-impel e the expansion of the fttiid after thebreaking of thebulb, I may provide it with one or more vents or outlets 22. I

In Fig. 2 I have shown a-modification of my device in which the bulb I4is contained within a cap 25 similar to t-hecap 20,'b1t t; without avent. The cap in this case will serve to prevent the leakage of thefluid.

upon the breaking of the bulb In order,

however. to permit the bulb to serve function and allow expansion of thecon tained tluid, I make the cap 25 off-considerably greater volume thanthat of the bull) or of the cap shown in 'Fig. 1. Thus, when the bulbbursts the pressure within the sys term will be greatly relieved andwill not rise again to an appreciable extent until the cap 25 is nearlyfilled. Under ordinary circumstances the volume of the cap will besutlicient to permit an ample expansion of the fluid in the system. i

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modified form of bulb which I may use with myapparatus,

this bulb being formed of a flexible material, 7

preferably a soft metal such as lead. The bulb 30 in this case is formedWlth a reentrant portion 31, which upon the rise of 7 pressure Withinthe bulb will be forced out into the position indicated in dotted lines.If the increase in volume due to this distenburst.

It will be seen from the above description that I have provided, inorder to allow for a certain expansion or rise in pressure of the fluidsin a fluid system, a device acting to provide for an increase in thevolume of the contained fluid, which at the same time permits a decreasein the pressure in the system and does not rely for its operation uponthe continued increase of pressure in the systern, as in certain devicesusirigsprings or air 1 1:. tion of the bulb is insufficient, the latterwill 7 7 cushions, the use of which has been heretofore suggested. Mybulbs, by breaking, act positively to permit a free expansion of thefluid in the system, their breaking being at the same time nodisadvantage, as their cost is negligible and they maybe replacedwithout ditliculty.

Having thus described certain modifications of my invention, but withoutlimiting myself to the specitic structures described and shown, I claim:

1. In combination, a. fluid system and a protective device thereforincluding a glass container, in con'nnunication with said system, havinga pressure resisti e strength substantially less than that of theremainder of the systei'n, and a fluid-tight compart-. ment surroundingsaid container.

2. A fluid system, and a protective device therefor, said deviceincluding a relatively frangible container in communication with saidsystem, and means for separably connet-tin; said container to saidsystem, vincluding a tap member adapted to be inserted in some part ofsaid system, a gland membersurrounding said container, means fordetachably securing said gland member to said tapniember, and means for:forming a fluidtight connection between said container and said tapmember.

3. A fluid system, and a protective device therefor, said deviceincluding a relatively frangible container in communication with, saidsystem, and means for separably conneeting said container to saidsystem, including a tap member adapted to be insert.-

ed in some part of said system, aigland member surrounding saidcontainer, means for detachably securing said gland member to said tapmember, means for forming a fluid-tight; connection between saidcontainer and tap member, and a fluid-tight shield surrounding saidcontainer.

4. A fluid system, and a protective device therefor, said deviceincluding a relatively frangible container in communication with saidsystem, and means for separably connectmg said container to the system,1ncludmg a tap member adapted to be inserted n some part of said systemand having,- an ill-*- ternally threaded portion, a gland memixzrsurrounding, said container and having an externally threaded portionadapted to fit said tap member, and means for forming a fluid-tightconnection-between said con-- rounding said container, and having anexternall y threaded portion adapted to fit. said tap member, and meansfor forming a tlnid tight. connection between said container and tapmember.

1 ROBERT ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

\VrLLmM K.- llaurrnxcn, Smvann 1.)AV]S.

